Got an hour or two to get beautiful in the morning before you head to work? Of course you don’t! But with some savvy planning and smart product choices, you can leave home looking polished and near perfect -- even when you’re slipping your shoes on as you head out the door.More >>

Got an hour or two to get beautiful in the morning before you head to work? Of course you don’t! But with some savvy planning and smart product choices, you can leave home looking polished and near perfect -- even when you’re slipping your shoes on as you head out the door. More >>

These four simple exercises will help you stay on the sunny side of the street.More >>

These four simple exercises will help you stay on the sunny side of the street. More >>

By Stuart Gavert

How many times have I heard in my 30+ years of hairdressing, "Even though I'm using the same products, why can't I make my hair feel as good at home as it does when I get it done in the salon?" Good question. The answer is not so much what you use but how you use it.

To begin, always brush out any tangles in your hair before you shampoo. The minute water hits tangles, it can lock them in, making it difficult to comb out, and causing breakage and weakening hair. Always pay attention to the underpart of your hair; women often don't realize how tangled this area can be.

Apply shampoo at the root area and begin to work it out gently through the ends. Try to keep your hair in the same direction as the flow of the water to prevent tangling. A vigorous scalp scrub may feel good, but it can cause snarls down the hair shaft. Just let the shampoo run down the shaft.

After rinsing, apply conditioner to the ends of your hair. (Yes, this is the opposite of how you apply shampoo. That's because most people don't need conditioner at the newly grown roots; they need it at the older ends.) Most importantly, comb the conditioner through with a wide-tooth comb, starting at the ends and working up the shaft. Last thing you do is rinse, again in the direction of the water flow. After getting out of the shower, pat your hair dry with a towel and carefully comb it out from the ends up. Now you have perfectly clean and conditioned hair ready for styling!

Stuart Gavert is the owner of the Beverly Hills salon Gavert Atelier. He has a roster of celebrity clients and regularly consults on hair color for films.

*DISCLAIMER*: The information contained in or provided through this site section is intended for general consumer understanding and education only and is not intended to be and is not a substitute for professional advice. Use of this site section and any information contained on or provided through this site section is at your own risk and any information contained on or provided through this site section is provided on an "as is" basis without any representations or warranties.